In June/July, I walked the French way of the El Camino de Santiago. Starting in St Jean Pied de Port, France and walking to Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
After reading all the blogs, and forums, I still made Camino mistakes. Here are my top five mistakes in hopes they help you.
1. My backpack was too heavy for me. Purchase a close to zero weight bag as possible.I did all the right things. Consulted all the experts I knew. Went to REI for a backpack fitting. Read until my eyes hurt. I started out with an Osprey Kyte 36. A perfect fit for me-in the store. Manufactures weight 3.23 lbs. However, my scale was at 4.2 lbs. I struggled with that bag for 21 days! It was just not the right bag for me. I sent it ahead. I carried it empty with only my water bladder and sent my day bag ahead. That bag rode in a taxi with injured friends. On day 21, in Leon, I purchased a Deuter Trail 30 bag, manufactures weight 2.6 lbs. What a difference!
The bag that worked for me: https://amzn.to/2ox0rId
2. My on-body bag had a Velcro closure. Do not bring any Velcro. Most people bring a fanny pack or a bum bag. I highly suggest this. I purchased a small zero weight cross body bag from Decathlon. While the bag worked in weight, it had a Velcro closure plus Velcro straps on the back. Every piece of clothing I brought was the light weight, dry fit, type of clothing. No matter what I did, those little tiny Velcro edges caught on every piece of clothing I had.
3. I brought 2-pound Keen sandals “just in case.” Don’t worry about “just in case.” That 2-pounds makes a difference! I struggled with an overweight bag and 2-pound Keen sandals. These were not my shower shoes. These were the sandals I wanted to wear in case my trail runners got wet. On day 21, as I am struggling with weight, I purchased a pair of zero weight crock flip flops. The Keen sandals and the zero weight shower shoes went away!
The flip flops I purchased: https://amzn.to/2nTwC4p
4. I used compeed on pre-blister areas. Don’t use compeed for prevention. I know some people swear by this stuff. But if your blister has not fully formed, or broken skin, the compeed makes a pre-blister worse. I went to the hospital in one little town after I attempted to use compeed on two hot spots that were not fully formed as a blister. The medic said they do not suggest using compeed. Just clean the area and rest the feet.
5. Probably the best advice of all……Stay with your Camino Family! I met wonderful people in line at the Pilgrims office in SJPdP. I also walked into Santiago with these same wonderful people! But I can tell you I struggled at times to stay with my family group. I had visions of nice long solitary walks and each time I walked ahead, I would end up waiting for my group. I then realized I could have both. My alone time balanced with my Camino family group. The experience would not have been the same without my Camino family. I cannot put into words what it meant to me to walk into Santiago, hand in hand with that wonderful group!
What mistakes did you make on the El Camino?
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